Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

GazerRise Fantastic!

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

dierregi The Savages is a tough movie. It deals with unpleasant themes such as mediocrity, failed relationships and taking care of aging relatives who did not do a good job at parenting. The results are excellent, thanks to the outstanding cast and script.It starts on a sarcastic note, with dad Lenny Savage (a great Philip Bosco) behaving badly in sunny Arizona. Lenny is an unpleasant old man, spending his retirement in a senior-only community. When his female companion dies suddenly, we learn that they were not married and that the house belonged to her. The woman's children want Lenny out ASAP, so his two estranged children, Wendy and Jon (equally great Linney and Seymour Hoffman) must come and take him back to the East Coast, where they live.Also due to their difficult childhood – only hinted at - Wendy and Jon have issues of their own, such as being unable to have healthy, long terms relationships. Wendy is involved in a dispassionate affair with a married man and Jon cannot commit to his long-term Polish girlfriend who must leave the US before being deported. The siblings have a strained relationship of their own, fed on the frustration of having both literary ambitions, but holding mundane jobs.The movie develops their relationship nicely, as the only metaphorical ray of sunshine in an otherwise frosty and desolate landscape. Despite the abuse they suffered at the hands of Lenny and a mother who just "left", they try to do their best to care for their hostile, demented dad, who does not show a shred of gratitude. The movie has a sort of melancholic humour and even manages to end with a much needed uplifting note. Definitely top-class film-making for discerning audiences.

tieman64 Directed by Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages" is an intermittently interested drama starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. They play a middle aged brother and sister who struggle to take care of their elderly father, played by Philip Bosco."The Savages" is at its best when its observing as these two siblings, both dysfunctional writers, move in with each another and tentatively expose their feelings in subtle, guarded and tangential ways. Filled with self-loathing and deep insecurities, these two characters are expert at skirting around issues and putting on false facades.Unfortunately, such moments are few and far between. Though the film is riveting whenever it centres on its sibling relationship, it eventually degenerates into a sentimental melodrama, in which the duo's father slowly slips into dementia.Incidentally, the film's title offers multiple readings. It refers to the literal surname of Hoffman and Linney's characters, their fear of "becoming savages who neglect their father", and also the "savagery" of their father himself, who was an abusive, mean dad for most of their childhood lives. The film suggests that the duo's present dysfunctions are a result of their dad, but also that he's become a scapegoat who absorbs all blame.8/10 – Worth one viewing.

Red_Identity The Savages is a very nuance and quiet little film about the journey of two siblings in taking care of their father. It is very well-made, with great cinematography and use of lighting, and the music score is very limited and quiet and only used in poignant scenes. It is very much a character film and study. Both Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman have great chemistry and deliver two great performances representing their flawed characters. I am surprised at the label as a comedy though. I did think it had a few moments of subtle humor but I wouldn't call it a dramedy at all, and for those expecting an indie film that balanced both drama and comedy in a Juno type of way will probably be disappointed. Instead, The Savages relies in the smooth direction, good writing, and great acting to deliver it's message.

rooprect This is a great movie, but pay no attention to the DVD packaging calling it "darkly funny", "singularly funny" and so on. While it does have a few good gags that made me laugh out loud once or twice, it's only about 25% comedy and the rest is a heavy, emotional drama about the painful subject of slow, lingering death.Two siblings (played by Laura Linney & Philip Seymour Hoffman) are burdened with the task of taking care of their estranged father who they learn is suffering from dementia. The comedy is just enough to keep it from getting too depressing but not so much that it upstages the gravity of the situation.The pacing is appropriately slow. You'll find no car chases, shootouts, contrived romances or M-Night-Shyamalanian twists; the story is not even very significant. Instead, pay attention to the relationships between the characters, their emotional disconnection from each other & the world, and their efforts to confront their lack of intimacy. What's interesting about this movie is that it begins with no details about the characters, but slowly the past emerges and is only fully explained in the final scene.If you like movies about real life, I think you'll enjoy this. And if you're interested in films about families/people dealing with illnesses & disorders, also check out "Away From Her", "Autumn Hearts", and "Phoebe in Wonderland" ...all good movies without the standard Hollywood cheese.